Health care providers notice increase in flu cases

Number of local cases ‘peaking now,’ infection preventionist says

Local medical professionals have observed a recent spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.

Local medical professionals have observed a recent spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.

Photo: Getty Images

Photo: Getty Images

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Local medical professionals have observed a recent spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.

Local medical professionals have observed a recent spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms.

Photo: Getty Images

Health care providers notice increase in flu cases

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Local medical professionals have observed a recent spike in the number of patients with flu-like symptoms. Some health care providers are taking steps to help stop the spread of the virus, and they encourage Midlanders to use prevention measures as well.

At Briarwood Clinic, 70 percent or more of walk-in patients have tested positive for the flu. Jerry Lyon, family nurse practitioner, said about half of patients with confirmed cases had received flu shots this season.

“One thing it tells me is that more and more, the scientists that are looking at what strains to protect you from, they’re coming up with more strains they didn’t expect,” he said.

Lyon said health entities are taking flu cases seriously this season. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue and vomiting or diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Statewide, influenza activity is increasing, according to a Texas Department of State Health Services surveillance report produced Friday. The report summarized flu and flu-like illness for the week ending Dec. 30 and stated the activity level was widespread.

The report’s map shows Midland County had confirmed cases of Flu A and Flu B — two types of seasonal influenza viruses. Andrews and Lubbock counties were the only others in West Texas that reported the same level of influenza activity to public health entities.

Val Sparks, infection preventionist at Midland Health, said Midland Memorial Hospital’s emergency room has had an increasing number of patients with flu-like symptoms.

In the MMH emergency department, numbers reported this week total 96 confirmed Flu A cases and 29 confirmed Flu B cases. Those figures are higher than the ones reported the week of Nov. 27, when there were six confirmed Flu A cases and no confirmed Flu B cases.

“We have lots of people getting the flu even though they had a flu shot,” Sparks said. “It’s not a perfect match this year.”

Still, health care providers encourage Midlanders to receive vaccinations. Though some flu activity started in the fall, local medical professionals are continuing to offer immunizations.

“It’s never too late to get the flu shot,” said Sal Garcia, health manager for the city of Midland health department. “Here’s the deal: The flu shot will help you bounce back up if you do get the flu.”

Garcia said community members can take other steps for flu prevention, such as staying home if they are sick, washing hands regularly and avoiding others who have illnesses.

To prevent the spread of the virus, MMH announced this week it is encouraging people with flu-like symptoms and children younger than age 14 not to visit people in the hospital.

The hospital is also disinfecting emergency department areas more frequently, distributing face masks to emergency room patients with flu-like symptoms and increasing signage related to flu prevention, according to a press release.

The flu season can stretch until spring, and Dr. Ikemefuna Okwuwa with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine at the Permian Basin is recommending people continue to take precautions. Okwuwa, assistant dean of clinical affairs and program director for the department of family medicine, encourages those who become sick to take action immediately.

“When it comes to symptoms of the flu, you want to [control them] in a day or two,” he said. “That’s when medications like Tamiflu work the best.”